Signal light

ABSTRACT

A base structure is provided from which there is supported a controllable light ssurce operative to case a beam of light outwardly from the base along a predetermined path. The base includes an extendible and retractable tube assembly supported therefrom in alignment with the aforementioned path for receiving the beam of light therethrough and the tube assembly includes a plurality of relatively telescopingly engaged tube sections. An end cap is provided for the outer end of the tube assembly and includes a reflective inner surface for reflecting the beam of light cast thereon from the light source back toward the light source. In addition, the individual tube sections are constructed of color-tinted light transparent material. When the tube assembly is fully collapsed and the end cap is removed, a handsupportable portable light is defined and when the tube assembly is extended and the end cap is secured over the outer end of the tube assembly an illuminated wand is provided.

United States Patent [191 Rushing et al. I

[ 1 SIGNAL LIGHT [76] Inventors: Wilford A. Rushing, 1120 Jefferson,

Lockport, II]. 60441; Robert D. Sulzberger, 22311 Govemors Hwy., Richton Park, Ill. 60471 [22] Filed: June 19, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 371,417

[52] US. Cl. 240/l0.6 SD, 340/321 [51] Int. Cl. F211 7/00 [58] Field of Search 240/106, 10.6 SD, 10.66; 340/321 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,092,664 9/1937 Bray 240/l0.6 SD 2,362,131 11/1944 Haggart, .lr. 240/l0.6 SD 2,647,254 7/1953 'Brunnhoelzl..... 240/l0.6 SD-X 2,838,750 6/1958 Rose 340/321 2,486,998 l1/1949 Szeklinski. 340/321 3,622,776 ll/l97l Wyrich 340/321 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,101,389 l/l968 Great Britain 240/l0.6 SD

[4 Jan. 22 1974 Primary ExaminerJoseph F. Peters, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A. OBrien & fiar vfiiaqqbspn [57] ABSTRACT A base structure is provided from which there is supported a controllable light source operative to case a beam of light outwardly from the base along a predetermined path. The base includes an extendible and retractable tube assembly supported therefrom in alignment with the aforementioned path for receiving the beam of light therethrough and the tube assembly includes a plurality of relatively telescopingly engaged tube sections. An end cap is provided for the outer end of the tube assembly and includes a reflective inner surface for reflecting the beam of light cast thereon from the light source back toward the light source. In addition, the individual tube sections are constructed of color-tinted light transparent material. When the tube assembly is fully collapsed and the end cap is removed, a hand-supportable portable light is defined and when the tube assembly is extended and the end cap is secured over the outer end of the tube assembly an illuminated wand is provided.

9 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1- SIGNAL LIGHT The signal light of the instant invention has been designed to provide a multipurpose hand light which may be used not only as a conventional flashlight but-also as an illuminated wand. The light source and handgrip portion of the signal light may be in the form of a conventional flashlight with the wand defining portion of the signal light being defined by a tube assembly consisting of a plurality of relatively telescoped tube sections constructed of color-tinted light transparent material.

The main object of this invention is to provide a signal light which may be used as a conventional flashlight and yet quickly transformed into an illuminated wand.

Another object of this invention is to provide a signal light in accordance with the preceding object and which may utilize basic components of conventional flashlights as the light source for the signal light and a support from the illuminated wand portion of the signal light.

Yet another objectof this invention is to provide a signal light in accordance with the preceding objects and which will providea convenient light source as a conventional flashlight and yet which may be utilized as an illuminated wand in an emergency.

A final object of this invention to be specificallyenumerated herein is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects and which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and be easy to use so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble free.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the signal light of the instant invention with the tube assembly thereof in extended position so as to define an illuminated wand FIG. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 22 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the signal light with the tube assembly thereof in collapsed position and the end cap of the tube assembly removed and being utilized as a support for the signal light.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates'the signal light of the instant invention. The light 10 includes a body structure referred to in general by the reference numeral 12 defined by a substantially conventional flashlight battery case 14 including a removable end cap 16 at one end. The opposite end of the case 12 is internally threaded as at 18 and a telescoping tube assembly referred to in general by the reference numeral 20 is supported from the end of the body case 14 remote from the end cap 16.

The'tube assembly 20 includes six tube sections 22, 24, 26, 28, and 32, which sections are progressively larger in diameter. The inner end of the tube section 22 is both internally and externally threaded and has a stop collar 34 threaded onto its exterior. In addition, the inner end of the tube section v22 is threadedly en- 2 gaged in the internally threaded end 18 of the body case 14. Also, the interior of the tube section 22 includes an inwardly projecting circumferential stop ridge 36 against which the major diameter end of the conventional conical flashlight reflector 38 is abutted. The minor diameter end of the reflector 38 supports a light socket 40 of conventional design in which the base of a light bulb 42 is secured. It is to be understood that the battery case 14 has a pair of batteries 44 disposed therein and that the case 14 further includes a control switch 46 for electrically connecting the bulb 42 to the batteries 44 in any conventional manner.

The outer end of the tube section 22 includes a radially outwardly projecting circumferential flange 22 and the outermost ends of the sections 24, 26, 28 and 30 include similar outwardly projecting circumferential flanges designated by corresponding prime numerals. Also, the innermost ends of the sections 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 include radially inwardly projecting circumferential flanges designated by corresponding double prime reference numerals.

The outer end of the section 32 is externally threaded as at 50 and an end cap 52 is removably threaded on the outer end of the outer tube section 32. The end cap 52 includes an end wall 54 whose inner surface is provided with a light reflective coating 56 and a wedgeshaped permanent magnet 58 is secured to the center of the end wall 54 by means of a suitable fastener 60.

One side portion of the tube section 32 has a ferrous plate 62 secured thereto by means of a suitable fastener 64 and the end cap 52 is removable from the tube section 32 and positionable with the permanent magnet 58 engaged with the ferrous member 62 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings so as to support the signal light 10 in a slightly inclined position.

As hereinbefore set forth, the sections 22, 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 are slidingly telescopingly engaged with each other and accordingly, the tube sections may be collapsed from the fully extended position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings to a fully collapsed position with the inner ends of the tube sections 24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 abutted against the collar 34. When the tube sections are thus disposed and the end cap 52 is removed, the signal light 10 may be used in the manner of a conventional flashlight. However, when it is desired to transform the signal light 10 into an illuminated wand, the end cap 52 is secured over the outer end of the tube section 32 and the various tube sections are shifted to the extended positions thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 of the drawings. Then, upon actuation of the light bulb 32, light will be cast outwardly from the light bulb and the reflector 38 along a path coinciding with the center axis of the tube assembly 20. The light beam will be cast on the light reflective coating 56 and reflected back along the tube assembly 20 toward the reflector'38. Of course, the tube assembly 20 may be constructed of color-tinted transparent material so that the light beam being reflected back and forth along the tube assembly will illuminate and pass through the tube assembly 20 making the latter readily viewable even when appreciable ambient light is present. If it is desired, the various tube section may be fully light transparent and not color-tinted. In any event, the term light transparent is intended to encompass not only transparent material but also translucent material through which light may pass and which may be illuminated by light passing therethrough.

When the end cap 52 is removed and engaged with the ferrous member 62 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the wedge-shaped permanent magnet 58 will support the end cap 52 at an angle so that the light may be slightly inclined with the open side of the cap 52 fully supported from the associated support surface. Further, if it is desired, the inner end of the outer tube section 32 may be provided with a ferrous ring and the outer face of the collar 34 maybe provided with magnetic means whereby the various sections outwardly of the section 22 may be magnetically secured in fully retracted positions.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A. signal light comprising a base supporting a controllable light source for casting a beam of light outwardly from said base along a predetermined path, a lengthwise extendible and collapsible tube assembly supported from said base in position with the center axis of said tube assembly generally coinciding with the center axis of said path, said tube assembly comprising a plurality of tube sections, one of said sections being supported from said body and the other of said sections being telescopingly engaged with said one section and each other, said other sections being relatively retractable toward positions nested relative to each other and said one section about the end of said path adjacent said body extendible outwardly from said body to define a tube member of a length at least twice the diameter of said tube member, said tube sections being constructed of light transparent material, and an end cap removably secured over the outer end of the outermost tube section including a light reflective inner surface operative to reflect light cast thereon from said light source back toward the latter.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outermost tube section is the largest diameter tube section and said one tube section is the smallest diameter tube section.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the other tube sections include inner end inwardly projecting circumferentially extending flanges and said one tube section and all of the other tube sections except for the outermost tube section include outer end radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extending flanges, said inwardly and outwardly projecting flanges being engageable with each other to limit outward extension of said outer tube sections. a

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the base end of said one tube section includes a radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extending collar against which the inner ends of said other tube sections may be abutted when said other sections are shifted to their retracted positions.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tube sections are constructed of color-tinted light transparent material.

6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer face of said end cap and one side marginal portion of the largest diameter tube section include magnetically attractable first and second means for supporting said end cap from said largest diameter tube section with the inner surface of said end cap facing generally radially outwardly of the center axis of said largest diameter tube member.

7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the outermost tube section is the largest diameter tube section and said one tube section is the smallest diameter tube section.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the other tube sections include inner end inwardly projecting circumferentially extending flanges and said one tube section and all of the other tube sections except for the outermost tube section include outer end radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extending flanges, said inwardly and outwardly projecting flanges being engageable with each other to limit outward extension of said other tube sections.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the base end of said one tube section includes a radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extending collar against which the inner ends of said other tube sections may be abutted when said other sections are shifted to their retracted positions. 

1. A signal light comprising a base supporting a controllable light source for casting a beam of light outwardly from said base along a predetermined path, a lengthwise extendible and collapsible tube assembly supported from said base in position with the center axis of said tube assembly generally coinciding with the center axis of said path, said tube assembly comprising a plurality of tube sections, one of said sections being supported from said body and the other of said sections being telescopingly engaged with said one section and each other, said other sections being relatively retractable toward positions nested relative to each other and said one section about the end of said path adjacent said body extendible outwardly from said body to define a tube member of a length at least twice the diameter of said tube member, said tube sections being constructed of light transparent material, and an end cap removably secured over the outer end of the outermost tube section including a light reflective inner surface operative to reflect light cast thereon from said light source back toward the latter.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outermost tube section is the largest diameter tube section and said one tube section is the smallest diameter tube section.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein the other tube sections include inner end inwardly projecting circumferentially extending flanges and said one tube section and all of the other tube sections except for the outermost tube section include outer end radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extending flanges, said inwardly and outwardly projecting flanges being engageable with each other to limit outward extension of said outer tube sections.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein the base end of said one tube section includes a radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extending collar against which the inner ends of said other tube sections may be abutted when said other sections are shifted to their retracted positions.
 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said tube sections are constructed of color-tinted light transparent material.
 6. The combination of claim 1 wherein the outer face of said end cap and one side marginal portion of the largest diameter tube section include magnetically attractable first and second means for supporTing said end cap from said largest diameter tube section with the inner surface of said end cap facing generally radially outwardly of the center axis of said largest diameter tube member.
 7. The combination of claim 6 wherein the outermost tube section is the largest diameter tube section and said one tube section is the smallest diameter tube section.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein the other tube sections include inner end inwardly projecting circumferentially extending flanges and said one tube section and all of the other tube sections except for the outermost tube section include outer end radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extending flanges, said inwardly and outwardly projecting flanges being engageable with each other to limit outward extension of said other tube sections.
 9. The combination of claim 8 wherein the base end of said one tube section includes a radially outwardly projecting circumferentially extending collar against which the inner ends of said other tube sections may be abutted when said other sections are shifted to their retracted positions. 